Polar Bears - Pictures - Conservation Status
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Picture source:
APL -American photo library © 1997-2004
Plans LTD
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Polar bears are a potentially threatened species. Specialists estimate their population at 22,000 to 27,000 bears. A threatened species is one that could easily become endangered. Threats to the polar bears include pollution, poaching, and industrial disturbances. Hunting could become a threat if populations are not well managed.
In the wild, these animals live an average of 15 to 18 years. In captivity, they may live until their mid- to late 30s. There is a record that one zoo
polar bear in London lived to be 41. Polar bears do not have any enemies except for humans and other polar bears. Polar bears belong to the top of the food chain in the Arctic. They help keep the balance of nature by preventing an overpopulation of seals.
Polar Bears - Pictures - Social Structure
Throughout most of the year, polar bears are solitary individuals. They have large overlapping home ranges but do not defend territories. The only two social units exist comprise adult females with cubs and breeding pairs. The most constant social interaction occurs between mother and cubs.
Aggression occurs between males during the breeding season. There may be observed play fighting between aggregating sub adult and adult male polar bears. Young polar
bears or cubs chase and tackle their siblings.
Polar Bears - Pictures - General Information Links
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Picture source:
ANWR org © 1997- 2003
Arctic Power
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123spot - Polar Bears - Describes the physical adaptations that help the Polar Bear survive in very cold climates. Details their enormous size.
All About Bears - Polar Bear - Enjoy several photos of the magnificent white bear and read of its natural history. Gives several related links.
allRefer Reference - Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus) - Check out the distribution, habits, characteristics, habitat, anatomy, species, behavior, and diet of the large white bear found on the coasts of arctic North America.
Animal Diversity Web - Polar Bears - Peruse a fact sheet for the bear that is usually found around the North Pole. Understand their behavior and dietary habits.
Animal Trial - Polar Bear Pictures - View this species in its natural habitat from the permanently frozen Arctic Ocean to the harsh edges of the tundra in the Arctic regions.
BBCi - Polar Bear - Features a photo gallery and facts about this mammal's diet, distribution, habits and habitat.
Churchill's Polar Bears - All about Polar Bears, facts, tips, safety and tours.
Defenders of Wildlife - Polar Bears: Environmental Threats - Research the factors that threaten the lives of Polar Bears in the wild. Topics include climate change and pollution.
EnchantedLearning.com - Polar Bears - Shares a simple drawing of the species that includes illustrations of its tracks. Provides some basic facts on its natural history.
Great White Bear - Nature - Public television program spotlights this creature of the Arctic. See Polar Bear photos, or learn about the difficulty in tracking the mammals.
International Wildlife - Living With the White Bear - Russian scientist recounts his investigation into Polar-bear behavior on to two remote Siberian islands.
MSN Encarta - Polar Bears - Read a reference article describing this bear, its size, senses, and social behavior.
National Geographic Photo of the Day - Polar Bear Swimming - Enjoy Flip Nicklin's photo of a Polar Bear paddling in the waters near Canada's Hudson Bay.
North American Bear Center - Polar Bears - Read a profile of this North American Bear, which describes their populations, physical attributes, diet, and habits.
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Picture source:
Wildlife in Siberia ©
Kitakanto Color Agency Co
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Polar Bear - Animals of the Arctic - Student handbook covers Arctic animals, including these white bears. Read FAQs, see bear tracks, or hear the Eskimo word for Polar Bear.
Polar Bear - International Association for Bear Research - Learn about these denizens of the Arctic. Discover their life cycle, social behavior, and diet.
Polar Bear Fan Club - Learn of the bear's biology and ecology and view many photos of the animal in captivity and in the wild.
Polar Bear Habitat - Polar Bear habitat and distribution.
Polar Bear World - Journey on a visual extravaganza into the wonderful world of Polar Bear's with photographer Wayne R. Bilenduke.
Polar Bears - Contains information about Polar Bears such as habitat, description, and behavior.
Polar Bears Alive - Preservationist group works to ensure the survival of the species. Read about their goals, find out about cubs and prey, or become a member
Sea World/Busch Gardens - Polar Bears - Shares info on this arctic carnivore, including its habitat, geographic distribution, reproduction habits, and conservation.
Smithsonian Magazine - Bear Trouble - Describes the environmental and industrial hazards affecting the population of Polar Bears near Svalbard, Norway.
Species at Risk - Polar Bear - Description, habitat and range, and threats.
TGR Solution Zoo - This site contains over 200 unique pictures of Polar Bears!
What Has Been Happening to Polar Bears in Recent Decades - Authoritative essay detailed on the NOAA Arctic Theme Page on the status of Polar Bear populations in recent decades. Includes gallery of photographs.
World Wildlife Fund Canada - Polar Bear Central - Note physical characters and habitat for this Arctic species. View or capture Polar Bear photos, postcards, desktop wallpaper, and test knowledge via an ICE Q quiz.
Zooregon.org: Polar Bears - Description, distribution, and status.
Polar Bears - Pictures - Other Polar Bears sites
Polar Bears - The largest living carnivores on earth, Polar Bears are found in regions of the Arctic. They are commonly seen on the territory that belongs to Canada, Russia, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. The species has been seen as far south as Greenland and Iceland. In winter, the Polar Bear prefers southern areas. Coastlines are favorite sites of bearing females. In summer months, the species is often observed in areas with land-fast ice.
The scientific name of the species is Ursus maritimus. It stems from the notion that this is a marine species that spends a lot of time in water. In fact, these animals do perfectly well on the pack ice of the Arctic Ocean. This is where the Polar Bear usually hunts and gives birth to the cubs.
Polar Bears - Polar bears (Ursus Maritimus) are the world's largest predatory animals. They can be found anywhere across the polar areas of the northern hemisphere. There is a lot of interest and controversy about this animal's anatomy and behavior. They have long been thought to be relatives of southern bears, but a closer look at both species has revealed a number of considerable structural and behavioral discrepancies between them.
For a long time polar bears have been considered the fiercest and the most dangerous predators for humans. However, some of the latest studies have shed some light on that aspect and proved that rumors about their cosmically terrific nature are frequently sheer exaggerations. It is true that Polar bears are huge and powerful, but those who happened to watch them say, that, just as the majority of predators, they rarely attack humans all of a sudden, except when they are hungry or when protecting their cubs.
